Canon EF 85mm f/1.8 USM

£415/$350 An oldie but goodie, it’s a top value full-frame choice for portraiture

Predating the veteran Canon 50mm f/1.4 lens by a year, this 85mm optic harks back to 1992. It looks of the same era, like an upscaled version of the 50mm lens with a larger focal length and physical size, more in keeping with portraiture on full-frames. The modest f/1.8 aperture rating enables the lens to be smaller than the 85mm f/1.4 optics on test, and it’s only a third of the weight of the Sigma lens, tipping the scales at a manageable 425g.

As with both Canon 50mm lenses in the group, the lens hood is sold as an optional extra. This time, however, the front element is nearer the forward edge of the lens barrel, making the hood more necessary to reduce ghosting and flare. Unlike both of the 50mm lenses, focusing is fully internal. The physical length therefore doesn’t increase at shorter focus settings. Ringtype ultrasonic autofocus is faster and quieter than the Micro-usm and STM systems used in the Canon 50mm lenses, although all three lenses enable manual override of autofocus. Further similarities with the Canon 50mm f/1.4 are that both lenses have eight-blade diaphragms, a 58mm filter thread, and good but not pro-grade build quality.

Performance

Centre-sharpness could be a better at wide apertures between f/1.8 and f/2.8. Corner-sharpness at these apertures is poor but that’s not really an issue for portraiture. Colour fringing and distortion are minimal. Overall, it’s a great budget buy for full-frame portraiture, if you can live with no stabilization.